amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第64部分

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ing　the　second　set　of　new　black　leather　jacket；　pants；　and　boots　of　the　day。　The　reek　from　this　man　was　sour　wine　but　no　improvement。　He　did　wear　the　proper　journeyman's　Craft　knot。　Tagetarl　admonished　himself　that　he　hadn't　noticed　which　knot；　if　any；　Scar…face　sported。
　　〃You　had　no　message　to　expect　this　delivery？〃　The　man　looked　shocked　and　pulled　up　his　paunch　as　if　the　waistband　of　the　pants　needed　easing。　〃Runners　are　getting　lazy。〃
　　Tagetarl　heard　a　muted　oath　and　spotted　the　shabby　drudge　collecting　the　straw　wisps。
　　〃As　you　can　see；　it's　a　fine　Benden　red；〃　and　the　wineman　turned　the　tag　for　Tagetarl　to　read。
　　〃Yes；　indeed；　it　is；〃　and　Tagetarl　was　impressed。　〃A　'forty…two！　Excellent　vintage。　I　shall　enjoy　that。　Whose　health　do　I　drink　tonight　since　the　donor's　message　is　overdue？〃
　　〃Why；　the　Lord　Holder's；　of　course；〃　the　man　replied　easily。
　　Tagetarl　beckoned　for　the　drudge　to　put　his　broom　down。　〃You　there；　take　this　into　the　kitchen　and　we'll　all　drink　the　health　of　the　Lord　Holder　tonight。　I　expect　he　must　be　pleased　with　my　latest　publications；〃　he　added　mendaciously。
　　〃Cellar　to　cellar　is　our　boast。　I'll　take　it　in　myself。　Wine　needs　to　be　handled　carefully。〃　The　wineman　held　an　arm　up　to　discourage　assistance。
　　〃Very　good　of　you；　I'm　sure；〃　Tagetarl　said；　sternly　motioning　the　drudge　to　obey；　ensuring　that　the　wineman　wouldn't　enter　the　hold。　〃I　see　you've　other　skins。　Would　you　happen　to　have　a　Benden　white　among　them；　of　a　good　vintage？〃　He　stepped　forward　to　look　at　the　labels　hung　from　the　neck　of　the　skins　in　the　cart。
　　〃No；〃　and　now　the　false　wineman　intercepted　Tagetarl…every　bit　as　good　as　a　Gather　play；　Tagetarl　thought；　experiencing　a　flash　of　amusement　and　stepping　back。　〃Nothing　as　good　as　what　I'm　delivering　to　you　now。〃
　　With　unexpected　agility；　the　drudge　had　deftly　got　under　the　wineskin　to　slip　it　to　his　shoulder　in　a　way　that　would　not　muddle　the　wine　unnecessarily　and；　straightening；　carried　it　to　the　steps　and　up　into　the　Hall。　There　was　an　unmistakable　air　of　disappointment　on　the　wineman's　face。　Wanted　to　have　a　good　look　inside；　had　he？　Tagetarl　thought。
　　〃Too　bad；〃　Tagetarl　said　heartily。　〃Had　some　marks　to　spend。〃　He　gripped　the　weaver　circles　tightly　in　his　hand。　〃Do　stop　by　again　if　you　should　have　a　good　white　'forty…five；〃　and　maliciously　Tagetarl　named　what　he　knew　had　been　an　inferior　year。
　　〃Good　choice；　Master…ah…Printer。〃
　　Tagetarl　escorted　him　to　the　outer　gate　in　firm　dismissal　and　watched　him　push　his　cart　away；　up　the　hill。　He　sprinted　back　to　the　hold　then；　to　see　what　Pinch…if　that　had　been　him　under　the　rags…had　done　with　the　wineskin。　He　was　not　in　the　kitchen；　which　was　as　well　since　he　could　see　that　Rosheen　was　busy　getting　supper。　She'd've　wanted　to　know　where　they　had　acquired　a　dirty　drudge　as　well　as　a　wineskin。　Hearing　footsteps　echo　on　the　steps　down　to　the　under…cellar；　Tagetarl　followed。　When　he　reached　that　level；　the　wineskin　had　been　deposited　into　one　of　the　flint　laundry　sinks　and　the　drudge　was　unwinding　his　holey　tunic　and　reaching　into　a　belt　pouch。
　　〃Carefully　pour　out　a　measure；　Tag；〃　Pinch　said；　drawing　out　a　small　vial　which　Tagetarl　knew　contained　one　of　those　invaluable　powders　that　most　long…distance　travelers　carried　to　check　the　potability　of　stream　water。
　　Taking　down　an　old　glass；　Tagetarl　unstoppered　the　skin　and　poured　a　sample。　Pinch　carefully　tapped　a　few　grains　of　the　powder　into　the　glass。　The　wine　slowly　began　to　froth。
　　〃You'd　have　beep　dead　asleep…or　maybe　even　dead；〃　Pinch　said。　He　replaced　the　bung　in　the　wineskin。　〃Definitely　a　malicious　attempt　to　render　you　incapable　of　defending　your　Hall。　Where　can　we　hide　it？〃　He　looked　around　the　room。
　　〃Underneath　the　sink；　behind　the　laundry　soaps；〃　Tagetarl　suggested　and　helped　Pinch　bestow　it；　with　a　final　glance　to　be　sure　the　bung　was　in　tight。　〃And　we　were　supposed　to　drink　a　whole　skin　tonight？〃
　　〃You　usually　drink　with　your　evening　meal。〃
　　〃Cider；〃　Tagetarl　said　in　protest。　〃Wine　only　on　special　occasions。　And　how　do　they　know　we　drink　at　dinner？〃
　　〃Probably　watching。　Your　kitchen　faces　the　road。　You　don't　close　the　shutters　until　you　go　to　bed。〃　Pinch　shrugged。　〃Then；　too；　most　people'll　drink　freely　of　free　wine；　you　know。　And　you　did　say　you'd　drink　the　Lord　Holder's　health。〃
　　〃It　couldn't　possibly　be　Lord　Kashman　he　meant？〃　Tagetarl　asked。
　　Pinch　twisted　his　chin　sideways　and　shrugged。　〃He　wasn't　specific；　was　he？　Or　do　they　intend　to　impugn　Lord　Toronas　since　it's　a　Benden　wine？　Or　implicate　Lord　Kashman？　Interesting。〃　Then　he　gave　a　delicate　sniff　of　the　savory　odors　drifting　down　from　the　kitchen　level。　〃When　did　you　say　dinner　is？　I　mean　to　join　you。　All　that　free　wine！〃
　　Rosheen　came　into　the　cellar。　〃I　thought　I　saw　someone　strange。　Pinch？〃　she　added；　staring　at　the　Harper　as　he　discarded　the　outer　layer　of　rags。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　〃I　perceive　you　haven't　told　her；〃　Pinch　said　with　a　long…suffering　sigh。
　　〃Told　me　what？〃　She　glared　at　both　of　them。
　　〃You　were　right；　Rosheen；〃　Tagetarl　said　with　a　sad　grimace。　〃There　is　trouble　ing　our　way。〃
　　〃Abominators？〃　she　exclaimed　when；　between　them；　Tagetarl　and　Pinch　disclosed　all　they　knew。
　　As　ever；　Rosheen　did　not　react　the　way　Tagetarl　thought　she　would。
　　〃You　mean；　you　didn't　tell　me　to　cook　enough　to　feed　your　friends　a　decent　supper；　Pinch？　You　left　them　waiting　up　there　in　that　awful　loft　all　day　long？〃
　　〃They　brought　food　and　they've　slept　most　of　the　day；〃　Pinch　added　as　if　that　was　occupation　enough。　〃Couldn't　let　anyone　know　they　were　here。〃
　　Abruptly　she　sat　down　on　the　stairs；　her　face　suddenly　white　as　she　absorbed　the　danger　the　Hall　was　in。
　　〃You　mean；〃　and　now　her　white　skin　was　flushed　with　angry　spots　on　her　cheeks；　〃you　let　me　go　through　the　entire　day　oblivious　to　all　this？〃
　　〃Now；　now；　Rosheen；　one　of　us　had　to　act　natural；〃　Tagetarl　said。
　　〃Well；　now；　I've　a　thing　or　two　to　say　to　that；　MasterPrinter　Tagetarl…〃
　　〃Later；　Rosheen；〃　Pinch　said。　〃You　can　say　anything　you　want　to　him　when　we've　got　all　this　behind　us。〃
　　She　paused；　one　hand　raised　to　point　accusingly　at　her　spouse。　〃When？〃　she　repeated　in　a　very　scared；　small　voice。
　　〃Tonight；　if　we're　lucky；〃　Pinch　replied。
　　〃That's　lucky？〃　She　blinked。　〃Is　that　why　Ola　hasn't　let　me　out　of　her　sight　all　day？〃
　　〃Quite　likely；〃　Pinch　agreed　amiably。　〃Now；　we'll　eat　dinner；　and　drink　merrily　from　whatever　you　have　in　the　hold　that's　safe　to　drink。　Some　of　your　good　cider？〃　he　asked　ingenuously。
　　Rosheen　took　a　deep　breath；　started　to　say　something；　changed　her　mind　and　pointed　down　the　cellar　hallway。　〃Harper；　you　know　exactly　where　I　store　the　cider！〃　She　turned　and　started　up　the　stairs；　slamming　each　foot　down　hard　on　the　riser　to　disperse　her　anger。
　　〃I　think　she　took　it　rather　well；〃　Pinch　said　to　Tagetarl。　He　rewrapped　his　rags。　〃Now；　this　drudge　will　hobble　out　and　disappear　in　the　lanes　and　byways。　And　shortly　a　very　respectably　dressed　gentleman　will　arrive　from　the　direction　of　the　wharf　with　a　mission　for　the　MasterPrinter　that　will　be　discussed　while　his　hosts　visibly　toast　the　Lord　Holder's　health。〃
　　And　that　was　exactly　what　happened　as　dusk　settled　over　Wide　Bay。　Then；　with　a　great　show　of　having　enjoyed　the　wine；　Tagetarl　and　Pinch　went　to　close　the　outer　gates　for　the　night。　The　heavy　sky…broom　wood　bar　took　considerable　heaving　to　get　into　place。　Tagetarl　clipped　over　the　unusual　fastenings　at　both　ends。
　　〃Now　don't　worry；　my　good　friend；〃　Pinch　said　as　they　walked　back　to　the　kitchen　porch；　giving　him　a　reassuring　shake　on　the　shoulder。　〃They　may　get　in；　but　I　assure　you；　they　won't　find　it　so　easy　to　get　out。　Nor　a　chance　to　do　any　harm。　Now　we　go　inside；　like　the　innocents　we　are；　and　lock　the　door。〃
　　Though　Pinch　had　explained　the　various　precautions　he　had　taken　during　the　day　and　where　his　helpers　were　now　hiding；　Tagetarl　was　realist　enough　to　know　that　Thread　could　fall　in　unexpected　tangles。
　　〃Try　to　relax；　Tag；〃　Pinch　advised　him。　〃I　think　every　fire…lizard　in　the　town　is　ready　to　e　when　Ola　warbles。〃
　　〃If　they　remember；〃　Tagetarl　muttered　to　himself；　shivering　a　little。　The　night　air　was　chilly。
　　Pinch　gave　a　soft；　wry　chuckle；　〃Bista's　there；　too；　you　know；　and　she'll　remember。　Now；　I've　one　more　trick　to　see　to。〃　He　clapped　him　once　more　on　the　shoulder　and　took　the　short　interior　corridor　to　the　Hall。
　　〃Relax？〃　Tagetarl　repeated　under　his　breath。
　　〃How　could　you　leave　me　in　ignorance　all　day；　Tag？〃　Rosheen　demanded；　ing　out　of　the　kitchen。
　　〃Now　you　know；　would　you　rather　have　known　earlier？〃　he　replied　more　bitingly　than　he　meant　and　put　his　arms　about　her　in　a　tight；　apologetic　embrace。　He　could　feel　her　trembling。
　　〃No；　I　guess　not；　but　you've　been　very　brave；　Tag。〃
　　〃I'm　scared　stiff。　If　only　we　could　have　put　in　steel　doors！〃
　　〃Steel　doors　didn't　keep　the　Abominators　out　of　the　Healer　Hall；　now　did　they？　They　just　walked　themselves　in。　Well；　at　least　they　can't　just　walk　in　here！〃
　　He　reached　over　to　turn　out　the　kitchen　lights。
　　〃Shall　I　giggle　drunkenly　or　something？　Having　enjoyed　the　Lord　Holder's　wine？　Or　s